Aadhaar Deactivations and the Genealogy of Cybernetics Gone Rogue in India
The recent developments with several individuals' Aadhaar being de-activated has created a flurry of concerned activity among the political class in India about the dangers of this system.
Vigilantism and surveillance in Modi’s Gujarat (An excerpt from 'Gujarat Under Modi: Laboratory of Today’s India' by Christophe Jaffrelot (Hurst Publishers, February 2024).
Electoral Bonds era ends. But gov’t is now collecting details of every donation to each political party
The Income Tax department has asked donors to divulge details of all contributions made to political parties through cash, cheque, or any other mode. Enforcement agencies will soon have this data, but the citizens will stay in the dark.
Opposition, Women, Muslim Groups Criticise Uttarakhand's Passing of Uniform Civil Code
'In one sense, the Bill has terminated the application of Muslim family law and has further criminalised the Muslim man and woman,' read a statement issued by Uttarakhand women’s groups.
Uniform Cut and Paste? A quick appraisal of Uttarakhand’s Uniform Civil Code Bill
The last time rulers of this great land tried to artificially create a ‘homogenous community with a common law,' it proved to be a total disaster leading to the eventual partition of India, writes Sanjoy Ghose.
Register Live-In Relationships Or Face 6-Month Jail: Uttarakhand Civil Code
Uttarakhand UCC Bill: The Uniform Civil Code was tabled in the Uttarakhand Assembly Tuesday morning and, among other points, says children born out of live-in relationships will receive legal recognition.
Smile, You're On Camera: The AI Surveillance At Ram Mandir In Ayodhya
Speaking to Decode, Atul Rai, co-founder and CEO of Staqu Technologies, the company behind the AI-powered security system in Ayodhya, said, the company’s JARVIS platform is installed in every camera set up at multiple locations in and around Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
Passengers say CISF, airport staff are collecting biometric data without consent
The data is being collected for Digi Yatra, which allows for digital processing of passengers; Digi Yatra Foundation CEO says they are “ramping up” the app’s use across airports through such one-time sign-ups.
India: Damning new forensic investigation reveals repeated use of Pegasus spyware to target high-profile journalists
Amnesty International, in partnership with The Washington Post, has unearthed shocking new details about the continued use of NSO Group’s highly invasive spyware Pegasus to target prominent journalists in India, including one who had previously been a victim of an attack using the same spyware.
India targets Apple over its phone hacking notifications
The intensity of the Indian government effort to discredit and strong-arm Apple disturbed executives at the company’s headquarters, in Cupertino, Calif., and illustrated how even Silicon Valley’s most powerful tech companies can face pressure from the increasingly assertive leadership of the world’s most populous country — and one of the most critical technology markets of the coming decade.
Telecommunications Bill Lays the Ground for Totalitarian Control of the Internet
While the Bill is being praised by the telecom industry for replacing archaic colonial laws, the Telecommunication Bill 2023 is expected to provide a larger control than these colonial laws to the Government of India and its institutions. Srinivas Kodali writes.
New Post Office Act Will Allow Employees to Open, Detain Parcels
A postal officer will also be empowered to deliver an item that is received from a domestic or international source to customs or any concerned authority "in case there is suspicion of duty evasion or it is prohibited under the law".
The Broadcasting Bill aims to provide a modern legislative framework, but there are concerns because its framework replicates a command-and-control model. Gautam Bhatia writes.
After 26/11 Mumbai Attacks, India Has Weaponised Economic Transactions for Mass Surveillance
The tragedy in India is that an external threat to security has seen the state weaponise all forms of governance systems against its own citizens, writes Srinivas Kodali.
How The State Is Using Section 144 & Private Citizens For ‘Warrantless Surveillance’
A study of the orders passed under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in 2021 in Delhi reveals how a law that gives the state extraordinary powers to curb civil liberties in cases of a public emergency is used for surveillance.
It is time to renew efforts to de-mystify technology with the aim of surveillance reforms, before this Digital Dystopia becomes a permanent future, writes Srinivas Kodali.
Why government’s defence on Apple spyware advisory is weak – and in bad faith
Viewed forensically, the statements in Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's press conference reveal a lack of good faith in investigating the invasion of personal privacy and democratic functioning of Opposition parliamentarians. Apar Gupta writes.